16 Years Today

It's hard to believe that my little running life has reached its sweet 16. 16 years ago this morning I laced on an old pair of running shoes left over from my college days and drug my 200lb+ butt out the door to go for a run. Well that was the idea anyway. In reality it was a run walk affair. I'd run 30 seconds and walk 2-3 minutes. It wasn't pretty or even that much fun. Those 30 seconds seemed to drag on forever, whereas the 2-3 minute walk breaks felt no longer than 30 seconds. If I'd had one of the fancy watches I'd soon buy to support my running addiction, I'd have sworn I was running the reverse that I'd intended. But no, I was that out of shape. My lungs were on fire, my legs jello. How I convinced myself to try that again, I don't know. But I did. One year later, I'd managed to run a full year, something I hadn't accomplished even during my "true" athletic career in high school. I was ecstatic. Driving to work that morning I after my historic run, I heard on the news the first reports of the Oklahoma bombing. My elation was short-lived as the world learned more and more of that terrible act. To say that afterwards I decided to continue running in their honor would be a lie, but the thought of all those lives lost do cross my mind during my runs in April or really anytime I think about how long I've been running.
So this journey has brought me from 220 lbs (110kg) to 150lbs (68kg) and currently back at 176lbs (80kgs). The blubber is currently winning having snuck up behind me...i.e. Love handles. The battle continues...
---- Envoyé avec BlackBerry® d'Orange ----

The Race!...and the aftermath.

Today's Comic
This comic seems appropriate for yesterday...to a point. Yesterday I had an orienteering race at Merlin's tomb. You all know Merlin, the wizard in King Arthur. I should have known better. An enchanted forest, what was I thinking? I'm sure my map had a spell cast upon it. I'd look down, and I'm sure Merlin had moved the control placement on my map...why else would I be heading the wrong direction? It's the only logical explanation. I did manage to escape the forest, which apparently made Merlin mad, since he cursed me with a reoccurrence of the gout attack I had on Friday. Probably due to dehydration and concentrating the uric acid in my blood. By the time I got home, the attack was in full swing.

Note to self: DON'T DO THAT AGAIN!!!

...and the meds did nothing to alleviate the pain this time. I fitfully tried to fall asleep, and sometime during the night (well after midnight) the pain subsided and I was able to get a few hours sleep.